Fall, 2008

Classroom CA 129 & Edit Room

TR  11:15 – 12:30

 

Professor: Tom Loehr

Office Phone: 380-3844

E-Mail: tloehr@shc.edu

My Web Site: http://faculty.shc.edu/tloehr/index.html

Office Hours:

MWF:  10:15 – 11:30
             2:45 – 4:30

TR:       8:30 – 10:30

             2:30 – 4:30

 

Syllabus For:

CMM 430.01, Electronic Post Production

 

Description, Goals and Objectives:

The organization of the raw material obtained out in the field or in other production venues is the primary function of a process more simply known as editing.  This process has a long and distinguished history first within motion pictures – silent, then sync sound – and secondarily television and now the internet.  Whether within dramatic narrative, journalistic or non-narrative, documentary formats, the process of assembling moving pictures, sounds and graphic material is intriguing, magical, complicated and time-consuming to learn.  We will examine the historical development of this editing process and in assignments roughly follow that historical progression.  There are continually two elements to learning this process: the current tools available for post production today and the conceptual and aesthetic principles that must guide and inform editing and other post production decisions.  Both elements are difficult to learn (and practically impossible) in a one-semester course.  But a grounding in both can be obtained so that in subsequent courses, in beginning jobs in a professional post production situation or in further graduate study, the student will be able to step in and apply the principles to a given – undoubtedly different – environment. 

 

Final Cut Pro is the software program we have used the last two or three years and it seems to be taking over in the industry, although not within broadcast journalism contexts.  The technology is complex and ever changing and must be assiduously studied and worked with to master with any degree of effectiveness.  To truly know this program you must work with it almost on a daily basis.  No classroom instruction can replace the outside work necessary by each person. Even then students will not _master_ the program.  They will simply gain a competence and a facility enabling them to concentrate on the important aspects of this wonderful process – the selection, timing, emphasis and manipulation of audio and visual elements to produce powerful, expressive works of art and communication.

 

We will be making on-site visits to post production companies and possibly television studios in the area throughout the semester.  In CMM 429, Field Production, some editing took place but mostly it was concerned with obtaining original visual and audio material.  In this course we will reverse the emphasis: some shooting will take place, particularly in the beginning, but most of the course will be concerned with the final process in the edit room.

 

There is a good chance we will be working with and for Mudbrick Media on one project at their facility in west Mobile.  You can get an idea of their studio and other post productions spaces and their work at their website: http://www.mudbrickmedia.com/index.php

 

Whenever possible, class will be held in the edit room to demonstrate and work with Final Cut Pro.

 

Objectives for The Course: To learn the accepted editing procedures in: narrative (film and television), documentary and, to a much lesser extent, journalistic traditions.  This is both conceptual and theoretical and practical, in the sense of learning software programs and procedures.

 

Outcomes:      Following this course students will be able to utilize a computer based editing program (specifically Final Cut Pro) to manipulate moving imagery, sound and graphics (particularly text) to a fundamental but significant degree.  This will be accomplished in various exercises and assignments.  Some of these will be individual in nature; some will involve one or more in a group effort.  Equal grades will be given to all (both) members of each group, unless it is very clear one person has either been quite obviously deficient in the work or its opposite – has been extraordinarily productive and proficient.  At the end of the course, each student will submit a DVD with each assignment on it, in its most polished and complete form.  These DVDs will serve as their most important assessment instrument and as their electronic portfolio for an internship or job application.  We will also attempt to post exercises and other projects on the college_s You Tube site throughout the semester.

 

Grading will be based on the following of each assignment’s directives; pacing and flow of imagery; creative treatment of the material and the work evident in the final version.

 

TEXT:             Editing Digital Video The Complete Creative and Technical Guide by Robert Goodman and Patrick McGrath.     (EDV)

                        The Final Cut Pro Manuals are expected to be read and referenced continually throughout the semester.
Final Cut Tutorials from various sources found on the web will also supplement the text and the FC manuals.

 

You will be able to find the syllabus for this course, assignments, readings,  Power Point presentations, and other helpful links or materials on my website as listed above.  All are expected to frequently visit the Current Notices page for this class.

 

Attendance Policy:    After three (2) unexcused absences a warning will be sent.  With a third absence and the written warning, a student is liable for withdrawal from the class.  It is important to come to class, especially as we will be demonstrating and practicing various techniques during class times.  Attendance and participation are factored into the grade (see below) and will form a significant function in achieving the stated goals for the course.

 

 

Students with Disabilities: Students who want to receive disabilities accommodations should contact Mrs. Dunklin, Coordinator for Student Support Services at 380-3470 as soon as possible so that warranted accommodations can be arranged.  Her office is located in Student Academic Services, 1st floor, Administration Building.

 

 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

 

1st Week, Aug. 26 & 28,

1.     Intro to course and goals, objectives, outcomes, etc.  Review of the Canon, Panasonic and Sony Mini DV cameras.  Brief Final Cut Tutorial.  For Thursday bring one or more pieces of music that you could use and ideas for the 

2.     Chapters 1 & 2 in EDV; practice with the cameras and the breakdown of the first assignment.  Comparison of various digital video formats.

Assignment: in pairs, shoot footage of a variety of diverse subjects, TBA (for rapid cutting, synchronized with a strong piece of instrumental (especially percussion) music).

Reading: Chapters 1 & 2 (for Thurs.) in EDV plus short article, TBA and Chapter 4 in EDV for Thursday of next week.

 

2nd Week, Sept. 2 & 4,

1.     First original footage due, screened and discussed; review of Final Cut Pro basics.

2.     More original video due; Chapter 3, EDV; Final Cut Pro – Log & Capture – Understanding of Waveform Monitor and Vector Scope.

Assignment: Continue shooting original video and inputting into Final Cut; choosing music.  Final Cut Pro: audio & Soundtrack Pro.

Reading: Chapter 4, EDV; article on silent films, from: The Technique of Film Editing by Reisz and Millar.

 

3rd Week, Sept. 9 & 11,

1.     Final original video due for the 1st projects; early silent film editing – techniques and theories: Griffith, Pudovkin, Eisenstein.

2.     Discussion of Reisz/Millar article; Final Cut Pro: working with Audio; basics filters, then Soundtrack Pro.

Assignment: Working alone, edit the original footage and any other to the chosen music.  First edit versions are DUE: Tuesday, Sept. 23rd .

Reading:        Chapter 4, EDV.

 

4th Week, Sept. 16 & 18,

1.     Discussion of Chapter 4, EDV; history: the beginning of sync sound editing.

2.     Analysis of early sound films from around the world; Final Cut – Transitions & Video Effects.

Assignment: Continue work on editing 1st project, due Tuesday; ideas discussed and written up for 2nd, sync sound project.

Oral Presentation Project: You are to choose a feature film whose editing you will analyze and present to the class with accompanying footage from the movie.  The final presentations will not be until after midterm but we will approach the topic in stages. You are to have a film chosen, with specific reasons why, by Sept. 25, Thursday.

Reading:        Chapters 5 & 6, EDV

 

5th Week, Sept. 23 & 25,

1.     Viewing, discussion and critique of edited videos; finalizing of ideas for 2nd assignment.

2.     Chapters 5 & 6, EDV, discussion on advanced trimming procedures in sync sound; practice and demonstration in edit room; Final Cut – Insert & Overwrite editing.  Discussion of ideas for analysis of the editing of a feature film.

Assignment:  TBA: Work on Project with Mud Brick Media; shooting of script for sync sound assignment.

Reading: Chapter 7, EDV

 

6th Week, Sept. 29 & Oct. 2,

1.     Viewing of rushes from sync sound assignment; Chapter 7, EDV; practical application in the edit room.

2.     Film and Television editing systems in the 1970s and _80s.  Importance of video tape.; Final Cut – Color, exposure, contrast and speed manipulation.

Assignment: Begin editing of sync sound assignment; work on: Assignment 3 – a 30 advertisement for a product or service that does not exist.  Concepts due Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Reading: Chapters 8 & 9, EDV

 

7th Week, Oct. 7 & 9,

1.     Discussion of ad ideas and possibilities, limitations; viewing of rough edited sync sound projects. Short Quiz.

2.     Chapters 8 & 9 in EDV and application to Final Cut in edit room.

                        Assignment:  Final versions of Assignment 2 due Thurs., Oct. 16. Scripts for ads DUE Tuesday after break, Oct. 21.

                        Reading:         Reviewing Chapters 1 – 9, EDV, for Midterm Test.

 

8th Week, Thursday, Oct. 16 (Fall Break on Monday and Tuesday):

1.     Midterm test.  (All chapters in the text, Final Cut Manuals (sections to be specified) and notes on history of editing.)

                        Assignment:   Finish writing of ad scripts.

                        Reading: Handout: Basics of using Photoshop in non-linear editing; web references for Motion software usage.

 

9th Week, Oct. 21 & 23,

1.     Return and review of midterm test; discussion of ad scripts due today. (Midterm grades posted today or sooner.)

2.     Experiments and exercises with Photoshop; Final Cut – Pans, Tilts, Zooms on still images. Basics of Motion software – Final Cut.

Assignment:   Shooting of footage for ad assignment begins.  Footage due Thursday, Oct. 30. We will shoot and edit the spot in High Definition, using the Sony HD camcorder for production.

                        Reading:         More pages on using Photoshop.

 

10th Week, Oct. 28 & 30,

1.     Final Cut Pro – Using and importing HD footage; possibly some shooting of the ad assignment

2.     Ad footage due, screened and evaluated/discussed; inputting footage into Final Cut Pro HD.    

Assignments:             Begin editing of ads. First versions due Thursday, Nov. 6.  Oral presentations on editing of a feature will be given on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

                        Reading:         More handouts on Photoshop and use of layers; Final Cut HD manual on importing and editing HD footage

 

11th Week, Nov. 4 & 6,

1.     Chapter 3, PCS – layering and transferring into Final Cut; exercises and examples in edit room.

2.     Field Trip to a production company:         TBA.

                        Assignment:   1) Design a personal logo that will animate and transform itself over a period of 2 – 5 seconds.

                                                2) Choose a motion picture that you will do a completely new trailer for.

                        Reading:         Handouts on Photoshop on words, logos and symbols

 

 

12th Week, Nov. 11 & 13,

1.     Oral presentations on editing of feature films.

2.     Discussion of Personal Logos and movie selections for trailers. Parameters for each assignment. (The film you chose to analyze can be also used for this assignment.)

                        Assignment:   Completed Personal Logos and finished trailers are both due and shown the day of the final exam – Dec. 9th.

                        Reading:         Handout on adding beveling, shadows, glows, etc. in Photoshop.   Livetype web references.

 

13th Week, Nov. 18 & 20,

1.     Livetype in Final Cut Pro – basics and practice.

2.     Field Trip to another production company: TBA

                        Assignment:   Continue work on logos and movie trailers; rough version of logos due Tuesday, Nov. 25.

                        Reading:         Chapter 11, PCS, on preparing backgrounds for video;

                                                Chapter 10, EDV, on the outputting of video for different venues: the web; dvd production, etc.

 

14th Week, Tuesday Nov.25th only.  Thanksgiving vacation: Nov. 22 – 26.

1.     Viewing and critique of rough logo clips; further work with Livetype.  Outputting to various web and DVD formats.

Assignment:  Continue work on Trailers and any final adjustments on previous projects

Reading:        Manuals for Compressor

 

15th and Final Week: Dec. 2 & 4,

1.     More of Outputting process; using Compressor

2.     Review for final; a look at Adobe After Effects; preparation of DVDs for viewing on the Final Exam Day, Dec.  9

 

 

 

A List of All Assignments Planned for the Semester:

 

1)    A one – two minute work of visual imagery edited to a strong piece of music, with the emphasis on cutting to the beat of the music.  It needs original footage, still photos and any other existing footage/imagery you can find.  There has to be a theme – for example, sports in general or a particular sport; modern life and its frustrations; dorm life and its frustrations; transportation and the hassles it entails, etc. It could also be a loose story told purely visually.

 

2)    A class project in the production and shooting, involving sync sound from multiple camera angles and unusual transitions and effects.  The editing will be done individually. Length: 3 – 5 minutes.

 

3)    A 30 second commercial for a product or service of your choice.  It is to promote a product or service that does not exist already.

 

4)     A 2 – 5 second animated logo for your own production company, using Photoshop and/or any other techniques or software programs you may discover.

 

5)     A trailer for an existing motion picture.  You can use existing video –from the movie – and any sync audio, but music and effects must be original, as would be any graphic material.

 

6)    A project for/with Mud Brick Media.  All will be involved in some way.  I have no further information on this as of now.

 

7)    An oral presentation with visual aids – the analysis of a particular feature film_s editing.

 

NOTE: The College’s theme for this year is: Renew The Face Of The Earth.  We will try to incorporate that into assignments, particularly # 3 above – the 30 second commercial.

 

Final Exam Period:   Tuesday, Dec. 9th at 8:00 am – There will be a short exam and the final versions of all assignments, including the logos and trailers, will be due and screened.

 

Final Screening: We will probably pick an evening during the test week in December to have a screening of all work produced in the class.  A specific date and time will be determined later in the semester. 

 

Midterm Grade Determination:           Assignments:              60%                 Final Grade:    Midterm Grade:           20%

                                                            Tests & Quizzes:         20%                                         Assignments:              50 %

                                                            Attendance & Class                                                     Tests & Quizzes:         10%

                                                               Participation:            20%                                         Attendance & Class

                                                                                                                                                    Participation            20%

 

Regarding late work:            If an assignment is due on a particular day and is not turned in or not ready to be screened at that time, a one-letter grade deduction will be issued.  If not turned in by the next class day, a two-letter grade penalty will be in effect.  If there are problems with the editing computers and/or software, contact me immediately and leave  a note on the particular computer  as to the problem.  Such problems will obviously be taken into account for assignments with specific deadlines, but you must inform me immediately through email as to the problem.

 

Midterm and Final Exams cannot be made up and must be taken on the day given in class.